metro
RESIDENTS of Ibadan on Wednesday bemoaned the long queues at major petrol filling stations in the Oyo state capital as motorists and generating set users queued for fuel.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who visited some petrol stations in Ibadan observed that there were long queues at Matrix and Bovas filling stations, both on Adeoyo Road.
The situation was the same at Dove and SAO filling stations on Ring Road, causing obstructions to the free flow of vehicular movement.
Some of the buyers told NAN that it was ridiculous to queue and spend quality time that could have yielded positive results if channeled to other meaningful ventures.
Mr Rasaq Ishola, a medical doctor, noted that the situation is saddening as Nigeria is said to be the giant of Africa and an oil and gas producer.
“We work so hard to make money and in turn use the money to provide some basic amenities that ordinarily ought to have been provided by the government.
“I am here to buy fuel for my car and generating set.
“I have queued for a while now whereas I should be at work getting things done so as to earn some money,” he said.
Mrs Abike Babalola, an entrepreneur, said that after dropping off her kids at school she came to join in the queue to get more fuel for her car tank.
She said that a lot of people had engaged in panic buying because of fear of hike in petrol price.
“I hate to store fuel in the house because my children are still young, but as it is now, I’ll have to buy some for keeps.
“People are buying out of panic because no one knows what tomorrow’s fuel situation will be.
“I hope and pray that people are careful with the fuel bought so we do not have fire outbreaks as a result of this development,” Babalola said.
A printer, Mr Joshua Akide, said that he runs a printing press that needs light to function and his major source of light is generating set.
He said he runs the business with two generating sets that use no fewer than 30 litres of fuel daily.
“We hardly have light where my work station is and with this fuel development I don’t know how my business will function well. I don’t want to disappoint my customers who have pending works with me.
“Government needs to look into this fuel situation as a matter of urgency because many companies depend on fuel for electricity.
“I have been on the queue now with my 150-litre keg to get petrol and I am hoping and praying that they won’t stop selling when it is my turn,” Akide said.
NAN, however, reports that as at the time of filling this report, petrol stations visited were selling at moderate prices. (NAN)
A.I
Tags: Mr Joshua Akide Mrs Abike Babalola
